In a new article, leading whistleblower attorney Stephen M. Kohn of Kohn, Kohn & Colapinto outlines the seven most urgently needed reforms to U.S. whistleblower laws and policy. In particular, Kohn highlights actions that Congress and federal agencies can take to align the nation’s whistleblower programs with The United States Strategy on Countering Corruption.
“The 118th Congress will end on January 3, 2025,” Kohn writes. “Thus, there is one year remaining for Congress and the current-sitting executive officers to act on a number of pending whistleblower initiatives, all of which have strong bipartisan support, are based on the plain meaning of laws already passed by Congress, and which are individually or collectively essential for the implementation of the U.S. Anti-Corruption Strategy.”
Among the reforms called for by Kohn are a number of bipartisan bills pending in Congress, including the SEC Whistleblower Reform Act, the CFTC Whistleblower Fund Improvement Act, and the IRS Whistleblower Improvement Act, all of which make necessary improvements to key whistleblower award programs. Kohn also explains why the Treasury Department and SEC need to ensure that their whistleblower regulations are consistent with the U.S. Anti-Corruption Strategy.
“The only thing holding back effective whistleblower laws in the United States is the lobbying power of special interests and powerful government officials’ hostility toward dissent,” Kohn writes in conclusion. “This must end. Whistleblowing has proven to be the most effective means to detect waste, fraud, abuse and threats to the public health and safety. The United States Strategy on Countering Corruption represents a roadmap for action. It’s time for the President, Congress and those running agencies such as the Department of Treasury and the SEC to get the job done.”
Kohn also serves as the Chairman of the Board of National Whistleblower Center which has set a number of Action Alerts on the issues raised by Kohn in the article. Through the Action Alerts, whistleblower supporters can help urge Congress and federal agencies to further strengthen whistleblower programs.
Further Reading:
A New Year for Whistleblowers? Emergency Action Needed to Make Current Whistleblower Laws Work
Join NWC in Taking Action:
Ensure that Federal Rules for Whistleblower Programs align with Anti-Corruption Priorities
Protect Internal Corporate Whistleblowers